Global Payroll Manager / Senior Manager

Company Description

Are you looking to join an organization that is growing and dynamic? What about a high-energy, collaborative environment that rewards hard work?

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.

Job Description

As a key member of the HR team, the Global Payroll Manager / Senior Manager will lead global payroll operations for a growing, dynamic organization with employees across multiple jurisdictions. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery while building scalable processes, strengthening controls, and improving the employee payroll experience. The Global Payroll Manager / Senior Manager report into the VP of Total Rewards and will oversee a globally distributed payroll team, partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, IT, and external vendors, and play an important role in payroll transformation, system optimization, and integration activities related to M&A and continued global expansion. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on payroll leader who enjoys solving complex problems, creating structure, and partnering across the business in a collaborative, high-growth environment.

Job Responsibilities 

• Lead global payroll operations across multiple countries, ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with applicable local, regional, and international requirements.
• Develop, implement, and maintain scalable payroll policies, procedures, controls, and standard operating practices across all jurisdictions.
• Oversee payroll processing, audits, reconciliations, reporting, and issue resolution to ensure data accuracy, process integrity, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead payroll transformation initiatives, including RFPs, vendor evaluation, system implementations, and migration to a global payroll platform.
• Support payroll integration activities for M&A transactions, ensuring a smooth transition and high-quality employee experience for newly acquired team members.
• Manage relationships with external payroll vendors and service providers, monitoring performance, service levels, issue resolution, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Legal, Tax, and IT to support payroll compliance, reporting, systems, controls, and employee-related processes.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to local payroll resources to ensure consistency, accountability, and best practices across global payroll operations.
• Monitor payroll metrics, trends, and recurring issues to identify risks, improve efficiency, and recommend process enhancements.
• Research and resolve payroll data discrepancies, processing issues, and compliance matters in partnership with internal stakeholders and external providers.
• Stay current on global payroll regulations, market practices, and emerging trends, and recommend updates to policies, systems, and processes as needed.
• Manage multiple payroll-related projects in compressed timelines while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, service quality, and strong stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including payroll operations across the U.S. and international jurisdictions such as EMEA, APAC, LATAM, and Canada.
• Experience leading or supporting global payroll transformation, process improvement, system implementation, vendor migration, or payroll platform consolidation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of payroll tax, wage and hour, compliance, and reporting requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance, accounting, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and partner effectively across HR, Finance, Legal, Tax, IT, vendors, and business stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and organizational skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Sound judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and a strong sense of urgency in managing sensitive payroll matters.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Professional services, consulting, or other complex global business environment experience preferred.
• Experience with global payroll vendors, HRIS/payroll systems, payroll integrations, or M&A payroll transitions preferred.
• Master’s degree in human resources, business, finance, accounting, or a related field preferred.

Physical and Mental Job Qualifications 

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.  

Additional Information

Some of the Benefits We Have Include

J.S. Held understands all our employees are people and sometimes life needs flexibility. We work to always provide an environment that best supports and suits our team’s needs.

• Our flexible work environment allows employees to work remotely, when needed
• Flexible Time Off policy
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401k Match
• Commuter Benefit

A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $115k - $130k. Any offered salary range is based on a wide array of factors including but not limited to skillset, experience, training, location, scope of role, management responsibility, etc.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read the J.S. Held Online Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as required and described therein. California residents can click here to learn more about the personal information we collect and here to learn about additional privacy rights that may be available.

Please explore what we’re all about at www.jsheld.com.

EEO and Job Accommodations

We embrace diversity and our commitment to building a team and environment that fosters professional and personal enrichment is unwavering. 

J.S. Held is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please email [email protected]. Include "Applicant Accommodation" in the subject line, along with your request and contact information.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.